Episode 18: Schmooze with Rabbi Ilana Krygier Lapides, The Rocky Mountain Rabbi | From Holocaust Legacy to Passover After October 7

Rabbi Ilana Krygier Lapides, also known as the Rocky Mountain Rabbi, joins The Schmooze for a powerful and deeply personal conversation.Born and raised in Calgary as the daughter of Holocaust survivors, Rabbi Ilana’s life has been shaped by memory, resilience, and a commitment to Jewish community. From her early leadership in BBYO to over a decade as a Holocaust educator, her journey has touched nearly every corner of Jewish Calgary.But this episode goes deeper.We explore:• The legacy of Holocaust survival and its impact across generations• The emotional toll of Holocaust education• Her decision to step into the rabbinate• The role of joy, identity, and spirituality in modern Jewish life• And how the story of Passover resonates in today’s worldAt a time when Jewish identity feels both challenged and renewed, this conversation asks an essential question:How do we carry the past… while still choosing life, meaning, and joy?